Kichu Michu (Snacks) - chinre bhaja

Since childhood I have been a big fan of snacks. I guess that is true for all of us. In India I used to ask my mom frequently to give me "kichu michu" i.e. some snacks. I always wanted something new. Now, after coming to US when I have to think about my breakfast, lunch and dinner I understand how difficult it is to provide new snacks item everyday. I used to buy snacks to avoid some extra kitchen time. I managed to save time in kitchen however, I gained too much weight. Thanks to all those packaged snacks. This year I took some resolutions and one of them is to avoid processed foods. My friend taught me this one.

To maintain this idea I am now looking for snacks items too. I think I have to come up with new snack recipes also.

Chinre Bhaja

Poha/Flat rice - 3 cups

Peanuts - 1/2 cup

Craisins/Raisins - 1/4 cup (optional)

Salt - to taste

Sugar - to taste (optional)

Oil - 1/4 spoon

Dry roast Poha till some of them becomes brown

Sprinkle oil and salt on top of it while roasting

Dry roast peanuts separately 

Peanuts should not be over-cooked (it's the tricky part. You have to be very careful with peanuts. If they are done they will be little bit sticky at first but it will be perfect once it's cold)

Add peanuts and craisins and sugar once poha is ready

Store it in a air-tight box

Serve when it's cold

P.S. You can add onions, cucumber, chillie etc. to make it more tasty. But for a graduate student like me this one is more than enough :)

naru-malai (coconut-paneer sandesh)

This year I have celebrated Saraswati puja at my home. After coming to US I have attended saraswati puja twice. The bengali professors in my university celebrate it at their home. There are three reasons for which I wanted to organize the puja this time.

1. In Professor's house the priest is not bengali and he uses some new anjali mantra which is very disturbing.... :(
2. Whenever bengali professors invite us for a puja they specifically ask not to bring non-bengali people. However, most of my friends here are non-bengali. I do not enjoy puja without them.
3. Although we wanted to organize the puja we were not confident enough. This year my friend Anushka's mom made it possible.

For puja, I was managing the cooking department mostly. We invited most of our friends (~35 people). Our friends helped in cutting vegetables. Our menu was simple, typical saraswati puja menu, khichuri, bandhakofi er tarkari, tomato chatni (I'll post their easy recipe soon). Friends brought some other foods also. We also arranged 5 types of sweets, 5 fried items.

                       

Enough of puja description. I made this naru-malai as a prasad. It's easy and tasty.

NARU-MAlAI

Whole-fat milk - 1Gal

Vinegar - 3/4th cup 

Water - 1/4th cup

Condensed Milk - 1can

Grated coconut - 1 cup

(Optional)

Craisins/raisin - 1 for each sandesh

Ground cardamom - 2 tbs

Boil the milk

Mix vinegar with water

Add the mixture in milk

After adding vinegar the milk will start to break 

Keep the mixture on low flame

Once the paneer and water become completely separated, drain out the water as much as you can

Take the paneer in a straining cloth and hang it for overnight 

Next day, heat oil

Add cardamom powder

Add paneer and condensed milk and grated coconut

Now keep on stirring so that it does not stick at the bottom

If you have drained water properly you do not have to stir a lot

Once the mixture becomes tight enough that you can make balls with it pour it in a plate

Now make round, square (whatever shape you want) shaped pieces with this mixture

Do not forget to put 1 raisin or craisin inside it

P.S. This sweet has coconut and paneer both of them get spoiles quickly. Try to finish it fast. Usually it's so tasty that you do not have to worry about it. :)